Install two Linux Distros on the same computer

I have to install Windows ME, Fedora Core 3 and SuSe 9.1. How do I proceed?

Solution :

Before install take a deep breath on how to arrange spaces for installing three distors? I have used as under...

I have a 40 GB Hard Disk and I have made the following partitions...

1) 5 GB FAT 32 (C:)
2) 5 GB FAT 32 (D:)
3) 10 GB EXT3 (For SuSe 9.1)
4) 10 GB EXT3 (For Fedora 3)
5) 512 MB SWAP (Thumbrule for setting up the size of SWAP = 2 * RAM present in your computer)
6) Rest kept free (to be used according to need)

In the above I used the first 5 GB FAT for installing Win ME. The second 5 GB FAT for storage of Win data files. The first 10 GB EXT3 for SuSe 9.1 and second 10 GB EXT3 for Fedora Core 3. The 512 MB swap is for common SWAP place.



STEP 1 :

Install Windows ME

STEP 2 :

Install SuSe 9.1

STEP 3 :

Install Fedora Core 3.
Hope up to this point you will face no problem.

STEP 4 :

After installing Fedora you will find that your SuSe vanished from GRUB boot loader but you will find Windows if you carefully configure your GRUB during installation of Fedora Core 3. During configuring GRUB at the time of Fedora Core 3 Installation, you will find an option to include other operating systems and your Fedora Core 3 can recognize your Windows ME as DOS and you should include it so that it can be found in your GRUB boot loader.

The main thing is to add another GNU/Linux OS, such as SuSe 9.1 in our case.

STEP 5 :

After installation of Fedora Core 3. You should check whether your Windows is working well or not. I am not going to discuss about Windows installation or any fault from Windows part. It is given in the example as to show that GRUB can well recognize Windows as well. You should contact any Windows forum or Microsoft for any help if your Windows fails to start. They should help you.

Boot from Fedora Core 3 and log in as root.

SETP 6 :

Here are the main things to be done carefully for accessing your SuSe. Always keep in mind that you are under FC 3. So, any / or /boot etc. will indicate Fedora's / or Fedora's /boot.

[root@localhost ~]# mkdir /mnt/suse

The above directory made to mount SuSe on that point.

[root@localhost ~]# mount /dev/hda6 /mnt/suse
We have just mounted SuSe to the mentioned mount point. You should put the exact drive name (hda6 in our case) in the above.

[root@localhost ~]# cd /mnt/suse
[root@localhost ~]# ls
You should see the various directories under SuSe.

[root@localhost ~]# cd boot
[root@localhost boot]#
You are now on SuSe's /boot directory. Now copy the following three files

1. vmlinuz-2.6.xxx.
2. System.map-2.6.xxx
3. initrd-2.6.xxx

and paste those to Fedora's /boot. The commands to do this may be as follows,
[root@localhost boot]# cp vmlinuz-2.6.* /boot
[root@localhost boot]# cp initrd-2.6.* /boot
[root@localhost boot]# cp System.map-2.6.* /boot

NB : If you use Slackware, you will not find initrd-2.6.xxx rather you will find a boot image file whose extension is .img (the file name something similar to boot.xxx.img). You should copy that file instead of initrd-2.6.xxx.

Now, open the file /etc/grub.conf using your favorite text editor.

[root@localhost boot]# vi /etc/grub.conf

Add the following three lines at the end of the file...
------------------------------------------------------------
title SuSe Linux 9.1 (2.6.x.x)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.4.52-default root=/dev/hda6 ro
------------------------------------------------------------

You have finished editing the file.

The first line tells about the title which will appear in our GRUB boot loader window. This is a string. After typing title you can provide any string which will appear in your GRUB's window.

The second line tells the GRUB that where your root is located. If your / of SuSe is located under partition hda6 you should write the above. The following example will clear you how to modify the string according to your need if your / of SuSe is other than hda6.

for hda6= (hd0,5)
for hda5= (hd0,4)
for hda7= (hd0,6)
for hdb6= (hd1,5)
for hdb5= (hd1,4)
for hdb7= (hd1,6)

Hope this is sufficient to clear the thing.

The third line indicates where to find the kernel and kernel status.

Now save the file. Reboot and viola......you have done the job.

You will find your second Linux Distro in the GRUB and you can now run any of your Linux Distro from your computer.